Cigarillo machine



March 1953 J. F. HALSTEAD ,63 34 CIGARILLO MACl-{INE Original Filed July25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

lllll! D 2% 90 l 2' M 3 zzz /w INVENTOR JOHN F. HALSTEAD March 31, 1953J. F. HALSTEAD 2,633,134

CIGARILLO MACHINE Original Filed July 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGQZINVENTOR JOHN F. HALSTEAD BY r, I

l A ORNEY March 31, 1953 J. F. HALSTEAD ,6

- CIGARILLO MACHINE Original Filed July 2:5, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5'FIG.3

INVENTOR JOHN F. HALSTEAD I ATI'ORN EY D A 4 r h a m 8 E 3 m T N 3 Q m mvF w 2 8 m A e N h H S O Y. B DE Am EH m SM LO L m Em .G m

March 31, 1953 Original Filed July 25, 1942 Patented Mar. 31, 193.?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARILLO MACHINE John F. Halstead,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, acorporation of New Jersey Original application July 23, 1942, Serial No.

Divided and this application January 9, 1947, Serial No. 720,960

9 Claims. (Cl. 131-79) This invention relates to cigar making machines,more particularly to machines for makingshort filler cigars, wherein thecigar bunches are molded to the required shape before the outer wrapperis applied thereto. Heretofore in unit nearly an hour before molding thecigar bunches, and the attendants often began operating the mold turretbefore the pockets had at-. tained the proper temperature. One of theobjects of the present invention is to provide a mold turretconstruction which will not require pre-heating, and to this end thereis provided a plurality of heated shapers which engage the bunches inthe pockets and shape and dry the same sufficiently ,so that they willretain their molded shape. 7

,Moreover in prior short filler cigar machines all or most of the moldpockets of the mold turret were covered by the mold covers during themolding of the cigar bunches. Therefore the moisture in the cigarbunches being molded could not Levaporate sufficiently to permit thecigar bunches to be dried out properly. A further object of ,theinvention, therefore is to permit the evaporation of the moisture fromthe cigar bunches in the mold pockets after they have been shapedtherein. To this end the cigar bunches after being engaged and shaped inone of the mold pockets by a heated shaper'or cover at a predeterminedstation, or a pair of adjoining stations of the mold turret, are leftuncovered as they are moved to the bunch-ejecting sta- I tion of themold turret. Thus the moisture may evaporate from the shaped cigar bunchto permit it to be dried out properly. If desired, the cigar bunches maybe engaged and shaped again by a shaper at another station, or a pair ofadjoining stations, intermediate the first shaping station and thebunch-ejecting station of the mold turret.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafterfully described and set forth in the appended claims. In theaccompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and inwhich like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the cigar bunch molding turret a portionof its housing and the indexing disk being broken away to expose theremainder of the indexing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the mold turret takenon line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is also a sectional side elevation of themold turret taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l; I Fig. 4 is a plan view on line4-4 of Fig. .3 showing one shaper in detail; and

a Fig. 5 is a partial sectional end elevation of the mold turretillustrating the bunch ejector mechanism, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

A cigar bunch B is transferred by a transfer T into position to bedelivered to one of the mold pockets of the mold turret M when transferT swings to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The

transfer ,T is provided with an oscillating member on which aresupported the jaws 84 and 86 which grip the cigar bunch beingtransferred.

The motion of member 80 is controlled by mechanism driven through gearsH2 and H4 (Fig.-

1), gear II4 being driven from gear 208 hereinafter described andmounted on shaft H6.

The cigar bunch B is ejected from jaws 84 and r 86 into the mold pocketat the bunch-receiving station of mold turret M by a plunger havingashank I48 slidably mounted on member 80.- The cigar bunch B istransferred from a bunchrolling apron to the transfer T by transfermechanism (not shown).

The transfer T and said transfer mechanism are the subject matter of 5my co-pending application now Patent No. 2,443,453 issued June 15, 1949of which this ap-, plication is a division. Accordingly reference may behad to said patent No. 2,443,453 for fur-: 1

ther details of the construction of the transfer a T and said transfermechanism. 1

The moldturret M has a rotatable drum" I80 which carries the moldpockets I18 upon itsperiphery and is loosely mounted on a horizontalshaft I88 supported by suitable bearings of a stationary housing I90(Figs. 1-3) attached'to the main frame I92 of the cigar machine (notshown). To turret drum I80 is secured a ring gear I94 which isintermittently driven by a gear I96 mounted on a spindle I97 supportedby a housing 222a formed on bracket 222 (Figs. 1 and 2). The hub of gearI96 is formed integrally (as shown in Fi 2) with the hub of an indexinggear I98 which is also mounted on spindle I9l'. Gear I98 carries anumber of rollers 230 which successively engage with an index cam disk202 having a circumferential flange 203 to which is fastened an indexcam lug 204 whose inner edge is shaped (as shown in Fig.1) and disposedopposite an indentation 205 (Fig. 1) in the periphery of disk 202 toprovide a track in which each roller 200 enters successively. The shapeof this track is such that it will displace the roller entering it toturn the gear I95 sumciently to rotate the turret drum I80 the distancebetween centers of adjacent mold pockets. This indexing mechanism issimilar to that shown in the Wheeler Patent No. 2,157g537, except it ismounted on the turret.

Index disk 202 is mounted on shaft I88 and carries a gear 206 which iscontinuouslyzzdriven,

by the gear 208 (Figs. 1,2 and 3) mounted on shaft I20. .On shaft I20 iskeyed a. one-tooth ratchet 2) which is driven by a spring pawl 2| 2pivoted to a continuously driven gear H8 which is drivenby gear I22mounted on shaft I24. This construction enables the operator to turn themold turret for cleaning the mold pocketswithout turning the entiremachine, upon disengaging the pawl -2I2, from ratchet2l0, and uponreengagement of the pawl with the ratchet, proper indexin-grandtimingare'a'ssured. ,In operation the indexing .of the turret is suchrthateach mold pocket. stops. in alignment 1 with the respectivemechanismsat: the .bunch loading and ejecting stations.

After the cigar .bunches 'B are inserted into the mold pockets bytheejecting plunger of the transfer .T, they are advanced to .a shaping.station S (Fig. 1) where thebunches are successively pressedinto themold pockets by a pair of shapers2l4 which simultaneously enteradjoiningv mold pockets I18. The cavity in the mold pockets, in theparticular embodiment of the invention shown, conforms to the desiredshape of a'eheroot, which isalso called a cigarillo, and slots 2I5areformed in the ends of the pockets through which'the ends of theinserted bunches project. The operating faces of the shapers 2I4 conformto the desired shape of cheroot or cigarillo. Each shaper 2 I4 ismounted'on a cover plate 2I6 which carries a suitable heating element,such as an electric cartridge 2I8, which imparts heat to its respectiveshaper 2I4 to dry out the bunch while shaping it. The covers 2I6 are'detachably mounted on pairs of operating rods 220 which are slidablysupported by a pair of annular brackets 222 (Figs. 1 and 2) fastened tohousing I90. In order to simplify construction and still assure asimultaneous operation of the two shapers 2| 4, the operating rods 220at each end of the two ends of cover plates 2I6 are connected'at theirlower ends by a pin 224 rigid with one rod and loosely fitting atransverse hole in the other rod,-so"that it is necessary to provide anoperating or cam roller 226 on only one rod at eachend of one ofsaid'cover plates to -assure proper operation of both shapers. Each camroller 226 is pivoted to its respective rod and engages with a cam track228 of its respective cam 230, both cams 230 being keyed to thecontinuously rotating shaft I88.

After the bunch B has successively passed the two shapers at the shapingstation S, the protruding ends of the bunches are cut off while passinga pair of rotary trimming knives 232 4 (Figs. 1 and 2). Said knives areof a somewhat oval shape and are provided with cutting edges at bothends and rotate in the direction of the arrow (indicated in Fig. 1) andonly while a mold pocket passes the trimming station. The intermittentmotion of the knives is controlled by index gear I98 -which ;meshes witha gear 234 which is mounted on a spindle 242 carried by the housing 222aformed on one of the brackets 222 and connected with a gear 236 alsomounted on spindle 242, as shown in Fig. 2. Gear236 drives a gear 238secured to knife 24!] carrying the two trimming knives 232, the shaft240 being supported by suitable bearings provided in the brackets 222,one of the shaft bearings being provided on the interior of the housingportion 222a on the right hand bracket 222 (Fig. 2) and the otherbearing being provided in a lug 2221) formed on the other bracket 222.The knives rotate 2 revolutions during passage of. the bunch endsacrosstheir rangez-of action, so that the latter areengagedfivetimes bythe cutting edges of the knives. The knives are rotating as the bunch,ends ;approach,. so that thetip of the first; blade knicks the bunch endwith the subsequent cutting edges progressively cutting deeper as the.turret. advances. .Thus the .cut made by each cutting edgemay .be onlys s inch at a'time insteadof trimmingzwith one cut as heretofore.:Afteripassingthe trimming station, the bunches in. molds I18are-engaged by --a pair of shapers 2 I 411 which are of the same shapeand construction as sha1:\ers?2I4 at the first shaping station s.'Eachshaper 2 I 40; is attached-to a cover plate "zlfia 'eachof :whichis detachably mounted one. pair of operating rods 220a, slidablysupported by the brackets 222. Each pair of rods 220a are connected-bye.pin 224a loosely fitting transverse holes therein, in

a mannersimilar to the connection-of-rods220 .cover plate has also aslot 248 and a circular conical indentation 250 engaging with the lowerconical portion of a spring-pressed locking member 252 supported andguided by-a suitable stud 254 held by the corresponding operating rod220 and 220a, respectively. It might also be pointed out that theheatingelements 2I8 can be removed from their housing on covers 2I6- and2I6a so that the cigar bunches can be shaped with or Without the aid ofheat, as desired.

The cigar bunches leaving the second shaping station have been properlyformed, trimmed and shaped, and are then removed from their respectivemolds at the ejecting station E where a set of suitable ejector rods 260lift the finished bunch out of the mold and deliver thesame to a bunchtransfer D suchas illustrated in Clausen Patent No. 2,334,174, issuedNovember 16, 1943. The ejector rods 260 are (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted on aguide bar 262 secured-to a suitable bracket 264 provided with a guideflange 266 engaging with a suitable vertical guide track 268 provided inbracket 222 (Fig. 2). To flange 266 is pivoted a cam roller 210 engagingwith a cam track 212 of a cam 214 mounted on shaft-I88. To

5... prevent any dust, from entering into track 212, a cover plate 218is provided on bracket 222, and by means of a conveniently located oilhole 280 lubrication can be effected without the danger of dust ortobacco particles reaching the slide surfaces of, the track 288 (Fig.6). The turret drum I88 as-well as the bottom portion of the molds H8are provided with suitable holes 282 and 284,, respectively, throughwhich-ejector rods 26!] protrudeand lift the finished cigar bunch out ofthemold-(Figs. 2 and I l The finished cigar bunch B is taken off theejector rods by the heretofore mentioned bunch transfer D which waitswith its open jaws 286 at the ejecting station The finished bunch B ofcourse is pushed upward in between said open jaws of the transferD."When the cigar bunch reaches its highest position a rod 288 protrudingfrom the toggle joint of the toggle 290 (Fig. 1) is tripped by aspring-pressed plunger 292 which carries a nut 293 which engages rod 288and thereby effects the closing of jaws 286. Plunger 292 is supportedand guided by a suitable bracket 294 secured to bracket 222. Saidplunger is normally held down by a spring 296 but is moved upward when apin 298 held by bracket 26d contacts the bottom of said plunger duringthe upward movement of bracket 264 during the bunch ejecting operation.The bunch so gripped in the transfer is transported therein towrapperapplying position (not shown). Since the details of theconstruction of the transfer form no part of the invention, furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary since they are shown in theabove mentioned Patent No. 2,334,174.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, the combination with a moving member having aseries of pockets which are each adapted to receive a cigar bunch, of aplurality of movable shapers positioned at predetermined stationsadapted to successively enter pockets in said member and coact therewithto shape cigar bunches inserted in the pockets and a heating elementmounted on said shaper and adapted to heat the same so that the buncheswill be dried out while engaged by the shaper at the station.

2. The combination with a rotary mold turret having a series of moldsprovided with pockets which are each adapted to receive a cigar bunch,of a pair of shapers connected to each other and adapted to enter a pairof adjoining pockets and shape cigar bunches inserted therein, a pair ofslides to which said shapers are secured, a member rigid with one ofsaid slides and loosely engaging the other of said slides and linkingsaid pair of slides one to the other, a pair of slideways extendingradially of said turret and wherein said slides are mounted for movementto guide said shapers in and out of said pockets, a single cam followerconnected to one of said slides, a cam concentrically mounted relativeto said turret and having a cam track to engage said 'cam follower tosimultaneously move said shapers in and out of said pockets, and meansfor rotating said cam to move said shapers into and out of said pockets.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with a member having a series ofpockets which are each adapted to receive a cigar bunch, of a movableshaper adapted to enter each pocket successively in said member andcoact therewith to shape cigar bunches inserted therein, and anelectrical heating element mounted on said shaper and adapted forheating the same so that the bunches will be dried the shaper.

4. In a cigar machine havinga rotary turret provided, with a series ofmold pockets which are eachadapted to receive a cigar bunch, and meansfor intermittently rotating said turret to advance each pocketsuccessively from a bunch receiving station to a bunch ejectingstation,the combination with a plurality of movable shapers adapted to entersaid pockets during the interextending pockets which are each adapted toreceive a cigar bunch, of a pair of shapers adapted simultaneously toenter a plurality of said pockets and shape cigar bunches insertedtherein, said shapers being mounted for movement along different radiiof said turret corresponding to the respective pockets entered, means incontact with said shapers and securing them together for simultaneousmovement, a single cam follower only mounted on one of said shapers, anda cam engaging said follower and operating to displace said shaperssimultaneously into and out of a plurality of mold pockets to shapebunches therein.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with a turret having a series ofopen mold pockets on its periphery each adapted to receive a cigarbunch, means for intermittently advancing each of said mold pocketssuccessively to a bunchshaping station from a station at which a cigarbunch is inserted therein, a movable shaper adapted to enter each pocketsuccessively at the bunch-shaping station and coact therewith to shape acigar bunch therein, means for heating the shaper'only, and mechanismfor inserting said shaper into the pocket at the bunch-shaping stationto shape the cigar bunch therein and then withdrawing said shaper beforethe next pocket is moved to the bunch-shaping station whereby themoisture in the shaped cigar bunches may readily evaporate from the openpockets to permit them to be properly dried out.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with a turret having a series ofopen mold pockets on its periphery each adapted to receive a cigarbunch, means for intermittently advancing each of said mold pocketssuccessively to a bunchshaping station from a station at which a cigarbunch is inserted therein, a heated movable shaper adapted to enter eachpocket successively at the bunch-shaping station and coact therewith toshape a cigar bunch therein, and mechanism for inserting the said shaperinto the pocket at the bunch-shaping station to shape the cigar bunchtherein and then withdrawing said shaper before the next pocket is movedto the bunchshaping station whereby the moisture in the heated andshaped cigar bunches may readily evaporate from the open pockets topermit them to be properly dried out.

8. The combination with a rotary mold turret having a series of moldsprovided with pockets which are each adapted to receive a cigar bunch,of a pair of shapers connected to each other and adapted to enter a pairof adjoining pockets and shape cigar bunches inserted therein, a pair 01out while engaged by,

:aeasgrm slidest which 'saidshapers are secured; a member linking saidpair of: slides one to 'theother, a pair of slideways extending radiallyof v said turret: and whereinsaid slides are mounted for movement-toguide said shapers in'and out of said' pocketspasing-le cam follower:mounted on one o'f :said slides -only, a cam concentrically mountedrelative tosaid turret and having a cam track to :engage said camfollower to simultaneou'sly move said shapers in and out "of saidpockets, and means for rotating said cam 'to move-said shapers 'into and'out of said pockets.

-9." The-method of making a cigar bunchtcomprising feeding-"a quantityof tobacco' to a receiving I stationp'rotating said station to -aheatingzone, maintaining said station stationary whilesimultaneously-shaping i the "tobacco and applyingheat "directly"thereto on' on1y a portion of its surface, "discontinuing theapplication of heat;--rotatingsaid station from said (ozone, supportingsaid' formed" quantity of tobacco while it= clries-and' cools, and"maintaining said station stationary while removing said tobacco.

JOHN F.'-HALSTEAD.

' REFERENCES CITED 'll'hetfollowing references are'of record in the fileof'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

